Balloon Full of Carbon Dioxide
Effect of Pressure on Melting Point of Ice
The Liquid Phase of Carbon Dioxide
Vapor Pressure of Pure Liquids
Boiling Acetone at Reduced Pressure
Magic Sand Models of Hydrophobia Effects
Surface Tension: Floating Duck
Surface Tension of Water: The Floating Paper Clip
Will Tissue Hold Water? Interfacial Tension
Computer NaCl Crystal Cleavage
Variation of Volumes of Water With Temperature
Surface Spreading and Surface Tension
Gel Formation with Sodium Alginate and Calcium Chloride
Boiling Acetone or Water at Room Temperature
Density of Sulfur Hexafluoride and Sublimation of Certain Gases
Ethanol Cannon
Description: Plastic containers are filled with a small amount of ethanol and a cork is placed on the top. Touching the nails on the outside of the containers with a Tesla coil causes a spark inside the container which ignites the ethanol vapor, and the cork blows off.
Source: Shakhashiri, B.Z. Chemical Demonstrations: A Handbook for Teachers of Chemistry
Year: 1985 Vol:2 Page: 216
Keywords: Ethanol, Cork, Tesla coil, Combustion, Spark
Rating: 
Hazard: Medium
- Electrical shock hazard
- Projectile hazard
- Flammability hazard
- Explosion hazard
- Noise hazard
- Eye irritation
Effectiveness: Good
- Somewhat connected to course material
- Results are clearly observable without guidance
- Time to results is low
- High reliability
- Strong effects are seen by audience
Difficulty: Medium
- Some sequential manipulations
- Use of reactive substances
- Use of high voltage
- Handling of organic chemicals
- Manipulations are simple for most to perform
Safety Precautions:
- Eye protection required
- Ear protection required
- ABC fire extinguisher on hand
- High ceiling (greater than three meters)
- Use caution when igniting to minimize projectile hazard
- Do not look into empty cannon bottle while energizing
Class: Combustion, Organic Chemistry, Thermodynamics
Division: General, Organic Chemistry
The demonstration Ethanol Cannon may be found under the demonstration Thermochemistry- Ethanol Cannon.
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